Provincial days of destiny for Mayo champions

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

There’s no rest of Kiltimagh this weekend, seven days after seeing off Roscommon side Ballinameen by 2-14 to 0-3, the east Mayo men face into the Connacht final this weekend. It’s only a short hop to Charlestown (throw in 2pm) for Kiltimagh on Sunday when they face off against Galway champions An Spideál. The Galway men have been in cracking form this season and Kiltimagh’s easy win over Ballinameen is not the ideal preparation for a Connacht final.

Breaffy look to make home advantage count

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

Breaffy ladies have come a long way in the past decade and now just stand 60 minutes away from an All Ireland final appearance. It was only a few years ago that they won their first county junior title and they have been making steady progress through the intermediate ranks to claim their first intermediate title after seeing off Cill Chomain in the county final in Crossmolina. They followed it up with a win over Clonbur in the Connacht semi-final the following week, before coming from behind to see off the challenge of Sligo champions, St Michael’s. Their reward for their incredible journey so far is a plum home draw in the All Ireland semi-final against Dublin and Leinster champions St Brigid’s this Sunday. And on Sunday it is not going to be any less of a challenge for the ladies in blue and white than they have faced down so far this year. The visitors have a number of quality players like All Star shortlisted Colleen Barrett and Sorcha Furlong. The Dublin side overcame Garrycastle from Westmeath by a comprehensive scoreline of 2-11 to 1-4 in their provincial decider a few weeks ago and will pose a stern test for the Breaffy side.

No let up for Charlestown

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

It’s a meeting of an old familiar face with his former comrades on Sunday when Charlestown meet St Kevin’s, Castlerea, in the Connacht semi final. Denis Kearney was in the middle of the field for Charlestown in the 1993 Mayo intermediate final, a side that included current Charlestown goalkeeper John Casey, current Charlestown manager Ciaran McBrien, and the county final’s man of the match David ‘Ginger’ Tiernan who was on the bench 16 years ago. So if any man will have the inside track on the Charlestown and what they are about it is the Carracastle native, who currently resides in Swinford another Mayo side he togged out for in his playing days.

Appeals culture in the GAA leaves a lot to be desired

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

The Galway county hurling final has been called off this Sunday due to the fact that Mullagh GAA club is possibly going to appeal to the DRA about their game with Loughrea being fixed at a fixtures committee when the man who chaired that meeting was suspended at the time the fixture was made. They lost their county semi-final to Loughrea by a point, and as we all know there were some sickening scenes after the game with supporters and some players keen to have a cut off the referee.

That kind of outrageous behaviour from any supporters or players to officials is completely and utterly unacceptable in this day and age. It must be stamped out and we all have a role to play in doing so. Even leaving that appalling behaviour to one side, it is sad to see the culture of appealing against everything being so very strong in the GAA. Have we lost track of what we are about as participants and as clubs?

Soccer Kenny makes his bow as Mayo boss

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

It has been changing times in Mayo over the past few years and one person who has seen more change than most has been Brendan Kenny. The Ballina Town manager only took over the post on a part time basis until a new boss was to be appointed a couple of years ago, but he has hung on in there. His first few months in charge saw Town go on a long journey to the latter stages of FAI Junior Cup. This season his north Mayo charges have the Super League in their grasp thanks to a comfortable win over Manulla last weekend. Win their last league game of the season and the deal is done, nothing the chasing Westport United men can do about it.

Athletics Medal wins for Mayo athletes in National Marathon Championships

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

The AAI National Marathon Championships were incorporated in the 30th running of the Dublin City Marathon held on Bank Holiday Monday. The atmosphere was tremendous all along the streets of Dublin and Mayo AC runners in their highly visible red and green singlets experienced fantastic support. They ran in teams and as individuals and seven of the 16 athletes won medals - a wonderful haul. But as always, every finisher was a winner.

Golf Winter leagues and AGMs on the horizon for Mayo clubs

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

Balla Golf Club
The Stableford competition held a fortnight ago sponsored by Gift Supreme saw Elaine O’Hara win with a score of 41, Carmel Costello came second on 38, Delia O’Hara took third on 36. The men’s competition was a tough battle with Vinnie Gibbons taking the win with a 36 (back nine), Christy Fallon took second with a 36 also (back six), and to round off the winners Seamus Holian came third with a 36 also over the 18. The youths competition was won by Simon Smyth.

Ladies All Ireland senior semi-final Carnacon back in familiar territory

Fri, Nov 06, 2009

Carnacon in an All Ireland semi-final is as familiar a sight as the feeling of heartbreak that comes each summer when Mayo crash out on their chase for Sam Maguire. And this Sunday the central Mayo girls are back on old familiar ground, if the venue is one they would have liked to avoid.